Jerry A. Bradley, 83, of Junction City, Kansas, passed away on Friday, February 10, 2023. Visitation will take place from 5:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at Johnson Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 17, 2023, at Johnson Funeral Home. Interment will follow the service at Kansas Veterans' Cemetery with full military honors. Memorial contributions in his honor may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, PO Box 22324, New York, NY 10087.
He was born on June 9, 1939, in Culpepper Township, Arkansas, to Jesse and Eunice (Lockhart) Bradley. Following his education, he entered the United States Army in August of 1956, at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Joining the ranks as a military policeman, he served at Fort Banks, Massachusetts, until his departure for Germany in 1958. His first two years in Europe were served in Munich, Germany, with the 508th Military Police Battalion. From 1960 to 1962, he served in Wildflecken, Germany, with the 3rd Armored Rifle Battalion.
CSM (RET) Bradley served two honorable tours of duty in Vietnam as a platoon sergeant; first with the 5th Battalion 2nd Air Defense Artillery (attached to the 3rd BDE 1st Infantry Division) from 1968 to 1969, and then with the 101st Airborne Division from 1971 to 1972.
In 1977, he became First Sergeant of VULCAN Battery of the 1st Battalion, 59th Air Defense Artillery, 8th Infantry Division, in Mainz, Germany. A year later, he was promoted to Sergeant Major and was the Chief Operations Sergeant Major of the 10th Air Defense Artillery Group (HAWK Missile), 32nd Air Defense Artillery Command, in Darmstadt, Germany.
CSM (RET) Bradley attended several first sergeant schools and graduated from the Sergeants Major Academy in 1976. From 1981 to 1983, Bradley served as the Command Sergeant Major of the Devil Brigade of the "Big Red One" Division at Fort Riley. In February 1983, he assumed the position of Command Sergeant Major, Fifth U.S. Army in Fort Sam Houston. In September 1984, he was assigned duty as Command Sergeant Major, 1st Infantry Division (M).
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and numerous foreign decorations.
On September 20, 1960, he married Rethie (Middleton) Bradley, in Lilbourn , Missouri. Together they raised three children, two sons and one daughter.
Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Rethie; his children, Lori Bradley of Greenville, South Carolina, Jon (Mary) Bradley of San Antonio, Texas, Todd (Tamara) Bradley of Aloha, Oregon; ten grandchildren, Jen, Chris, Jon, Brendan, Sidona, Molly, Jackson, Julia, Hannah, McKenzie; five great grandchildren, Noah, Gwen, Coraline, Paxton, Huxley; two sisters, Claudia and Connie; and three brothers, Junior, Steve, and Bruce.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.